"Author and war journalist Paul Cowan gives a pithy thumbnail sketch of each battle or incident (the longest episode is nine pages), and sets each event in the context of its time and also lists, where appropriate, its military or historical consequences. And he has a sharp eye for anecdotal detail, from the gory to the humorous, about the battles and their aftermath. All in all, it is a cracking good read."--Brian Townsend, The Courier

Scotland's reputation as a nation proud of its military history betrays the fact that the past is littered with catastrophes and failures. From the time of the Roman invasions until the Korean War, Scotland's military history is testament to the fact that victories are always talked up and recorded, but disasters are quietly forgotten. In all some 32 episodes of Scottish battlefield ineptitude are investigated by journalist Paul Cowan. These are:

Scots-born Canadian writer Paul Cowan began his career in journalism as a copy boy on one of Scotland’s most prestigious daily newspapers, the Glasgow Herald. Since then, he has contributed to most of the major media outlets in Britain and Canada. He came to Canada in 1997 to work for the Edmonton Sun. During his time with the Sun he reported from Afghanistan and Kosovo. He has also contributed to the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Vancouver Sun and the CBC. His first book, How the Scots Created Canada, a national bestseller, was greeted by critical acclaim when it was published in 2007. He lives in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Neil Wilson Publishing

Media Reviews

"[T]his pacy, lucidly written history is extremely readable and highly informative"—Martin Tierney, The Herald

"Scotland has been known for recruiting and training some of the best military units in the world. The Black Watch, Gordon Highlanders, and Camerons are just a few of the elite outfits that have been immortalized throughout their existence. But there is another side to Scottish military history. Canadian journalist Paul Cowan has spent the last two decades doing exhaustive research into Scottish military blunders since the Middle Ages. From Falkirk in 1298, where William Wallace was soundly defeated by an English army led by King Edward I, to the Korean War in 1950, the author examines various tactical errors committed by Scottish military leaders. At the Battle of Fort Duquesne, during the French and Indian War, the Montgomerie Highlanders attacked a fort held by the French and their Indian allies in present-day Pittsburgh. An 850-man reconnaissance force led by Major James Grant was caught by surprise, and hundreds of Scots were killed. Their severed heads were put on wooden stakes along the trail that stretched for the three miles as a grisly reminder to all who followed. Cowan feels that ignoring these mihaps does a gross disservice to the brave Scottish soldiers who fought with distinction in spite of these losses. He certainly knows this subject firsthand – his great-grandfather, Private Robert Cowan, was killed at Gallipoli in 1915 while serving with the 8th Scottish Rifles. —Military Heritage